Adjustable bed

ABSTRACT

AN ADJUSTABLE BED INCLUDING A CHASIS, A BED FRAME DISPOSED ON THE CHASIS, TWO OR THREE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER AND PISTON UNITS DISPOSED AT THE ENDS OF THE BED, AN ARTICULATED CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CYLINDER AND PISTON UNIT AND THE BED FRAME SO THAT THE BED FRAME MAY BE MOVED TO VARIOUS ELEVATED AND/OR INCLINED POSITIONS.

May 25, 1971 Q R 3,579,671

ADJUSTABLE BED Filed Feb. 19, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 25, 1971 H. KOTTER3,579,671

ADJUSTABLE BED Filed Feb. 19, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet I United States PatentUS. Cl. 5-62 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustable bedincluding a chassis, a bed frame disposed on the chassis, two or threehydraulic cylinder and piston units disposed at the ends of the bed, anarticulated connection between the cylinder and piston unit and the bedframe so that the bed frame may be moved to various elevated and/ orinclined positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an adjustable bedhaving a frame carried on a chassis and displaceable with respectthereto.

In prior known devices for displacing the bed frame with respect to thechassis, manually operable lifting devices were generally employed,although hydraulic and electrohydraulic devices are also known. Inmanually operable lifting devices, it was necessary to incorporateadditional devices such as cranks or levers. In such known devices inwhich the automatically operable devices are provided with a separateactuating cylinder for each adjusting movement which in turn requires anadditional control co-ordinated thereto. In such known beds theproduction costs are high. In most cases, manipulation of the liftingdevices is complicated and time-consuming and often does not conform tothe demands of up-to-date medical treatment methods, particularly in thecase of treatment of severely ill patients. Further, the majority of theadjustment parts used are unhygienic because of the difficulties ofcleaning.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate the abovementioneddisadvantages to reduce production costs by simplifying the mode ofconstruction of the sick-bed, by improving the safety functioning of thebed frame adjusting mechanism and simplifying handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention consists in an adjustable bedcomprising a chassis, a bed frame disposed on the chassis, a cylinderand piston unit disposed on the chassis at each end of the bed, meansarticulatedly connecting the cylinder and piston units to the bed frameso that the bed frame may be moved to various elevated and/or inclinedpositions.

In one embodiment of the invention, preferably, a pair of cylinder andpiston units are provided at one end of the bed spaced from one another.

Preferably, the cylinder and piston units are articulatedly connected tothe chassis. One cylinder and piston unit disposed at the head and oneat the foot of the bedframe, serve to adjust the height and to obtain amultitude of inclined positions of either end of the bed.

Manipulation is simplified by a central switch control. In the smallestspace of time the bed-frame may be made to assume extreme positions forparticular treatments. This is very important in case of suddencomplications or in case of shock.

Great scope is given to the use of different types of drives. Thus, forinstance, an actuating cylinder driven by "ice a hand-pump or foot pumpmay operate the piston cylinder unit or an electro-hydraulic unit willbe equally effective, in which case an electric switch may be used toactuate the device. A reversing means for diverting the pressurizedliquid will be provided, which enables individual or co-operatingactuation of the cylinder and piston units to be carried out, dependingon whether horizontal or inclining of the bed frame is desired. Finally,both units may be provided with pneumatic springs, preferably with aninternal control therefor. The internal control of the pneumatic systemensures mechanically effective retention of the piston of the cylinderand piston unit in any given position of the bed-frame and it thusbecomes unnecessary to build in rest-supports. Such a pneumatic systemexhibits force (equalizing) energy storage capacity, and jerklessadjustment by hand.

To pivot or rock the bed-frame to the desired transversely inclinedposition, it is a feature of the invention to articulatedly fix at leastone cylinder and piston unit in the plane of the longitudinal axis ofthe substructure. The bed-frame is connected to the cylinder and pistonunits by a transverse support beam disposed at each side by a supportingstrap along the bed-frame.

Accordingly, two cylinder and piston units may be incorporated at thehead or foot of the bed, if desired. This has the advantage of balancingpower needs during adjustment, and maintaining equilibrium of the bedframe. To prevent lateral swaying of the bed-frame, the transversesupport beam thereon has at its central region a broad attachment-hinge.

The cylinder and piston units may be individually or co-operativelycontrolled and they may be fixed to a transverse support beam on thebed-frame or the undercarriage either coupled together or spaced apart.

To further stabilize the bed-frame, the cylinder and piston units may beadditionally provided with guidescissors (Nuremberg scissors) preferablyabove the transverse support beams of the undercarriage.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, two cylinder andpiston units are arranged at the head of the bed and only one cylinderand piston unit is at the foot. The simplification of the undercarriageand absence of a fourth castor results in a considerable saving whichmore than compensates for the extra cost of an additional jack. The bed,moreover, becomes easier to move and easier to control when being moved.Furthermore, the improved weight distribution makes it possible for thetwo cylinder and piston units to be of lighter construction and requireless power.

To increase the stability of the lifting system of the instant device,the cylinder and piston units are preferably quadrangular ormulti-angular in cross-section.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of anadjustable bed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front elevation of the adjustable bed shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the adjustable bed shown in FIG. 1 in which the bed frameis elevated at both the head and foot of the bed.

FIG. 4 shows the side elevation of FIG. 1 wherein the bed frame isinclined and the head of the bed is elevated and the foot of the bed isin its lowered position; and

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the chassis of the adjustable bed shown inFIG. 1 in which additional cylinder and piston unit is provided at thehead of the bed.

